Posts Tagged ‘Best Western’

Awards Announced at Annual AAA Travel Conference
ORLANDO, Fla. (October 24, 2016) – AAA Travel, one of the largest leisure travel agencies in North America, presented nine travel industry suppliers with 2016 Partner of the Year Awards. The prestigious awards, given in 15 categories, recognize the partners’ commitment to providing AAA travel agents and members with exemplary travel services and products. Additionally, AAA’s three top-performing travel agents were honored with four highly coveted 2016 Superlative Awards. The awards were unveiled October 16 at the annual AAA Travel Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Additional Resources

Celebrity Cruises, AmaWaterways, Trafalgar, Pleasant Holidays, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and Air by Pleasant were recognized as AAA Travel’s Partners of the Year for providing the best overall experience in their respective product categories. Additional awards were given to recognize the top cruise, tour and lodging partners in marketing, member service and travel agency support.

“We are proud to present AAA Travel’s Partner of the Year Awards to some of the best companies in the travel industry,” said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president, AAA Travel and Publishing. “AAA members benefit from these strong partnerships, and our collective commitment to providing them world-class service and amazing vacation experiences.”

2016 Partner of the Year Awards

Ocean Cruise Partner of the Year:Celebrity Cruises

River Cruise Partner of the Year:AmaWaterways
Escorted Tour Partner of the Year:Trafalgar
Independent Tour Partner of the Year:Pleasant Holidays
Lodging Partner of the Year:Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Transportation Partner of the Year:Air by Pleasant
Best in Marketing:Cruise: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Tour: Insight Vacations
Lodging: Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Best in Member Service:Cruise: AmaWaterways
Tour: Insight Vacations
Lodging: Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Best in Travel Agency Support:Cruise: Royal Caribbean International
Tour: Insight Vacations
Lodging: Best Western Hotels & Resorts

AAA also recognized three of the association’s top-performing travel agents with highly coveted Superlative Awards in four categories.

Henry Dennis, a three-time Superlative Award winner, has more than 25 years’ experience in the travel industry. He is a Certified Travel Counselor and Accredited Cruise Counselor, as well as an accredited Lifestyle Specialist in the areas of luxury travel and destination weddings and honeymoons. Dennis is based in Charlotte, N.C., where he has served AAA Carolinas’ members for more than 20 years.

Dinar Pavri has worked in the travel industry for more than 33 years, following a successful career in teaching and education. Pavri joined AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah in Concord, Calif. in January 1998. She and her husband have traveled to six continents, with aspirations of making it to the seventh, Antarctica.

Barbara Fuller is a 35-year veteran of the travel industry. Her passion lies in adventure travel and cruising. She has worked at AAA Arizona for 20 years, and is based out of the Sun City West office. Fuller was born and raised outside of Stuttgart, Germany, but has called Arizona home for more than 20 years.

“We’re proud to recognize these three top travel agents for their steadfast commitment to our members,” Sutherland continued. “They are dedicated to providing members the best travel experiences and help to make AAA our members’ first choice for vacation planning.”

The Partner of the Year Award selection process included surveys and evaluations from the association’s club travel agency executives. Superlative Awards are based on agents’ leisure travel productivity and leisure group sales from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. Thousands of agents were eligible for the awards, and AAA clubs nominated 33 of their top achievers.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 56 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

LA QUINTA, Calif. (October 26, 2015) – AAA Travel, one of the largest leisure travel agencies in North America, presented 10 travel industry suppliers with 2015 Partner of the Year Awards in recognition of their commitment to providing AAA travel agents and members with exemplary travel services and products. The prestigious awards, given in 15 categories, were unveiled at the annual AAA Travel Conference October 19 in La Quinta, Calif.

Royal Caribbean International, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, AAA Member Choice Vacations, Pleasant Holidays, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and Air by Pleasant were recognized as AAA Travel’s Partners of the Year for providing the best overall experience in their respective product categories. Additional awards were given to recognize the top cruise, tour and lodging partners in marketing, member service and travel agency support.

“We are proud to present AAA Travel’s Partner of the Year Awards to some of the best companies in the travel industry,” said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president, AAA Travel and Publishing. “AAA members benefit from our strong relationships with these companies, all of which are committed to providing world-class service and amazing vacation experiences.”

AAA Travel’s preferred suppliers offer exclusive benefits and discounts to AAA members. The award selection process included surveys and evaluations from the association’s club travel agency executives. Recognizing the travel industry’s increasingly customized products offerings, AAA developed new categories this year to feature ocean and river cruise partners, as well as escorted/hosted and independent tour partners, in separate categories. This year’s winners are:

2015 Partner of the Year Awards

Ocean Cruise Partner of the Year:Royal Caribbean International

River Cruise Partner of the Year:Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Escorted/Hosted Tour Partner of the Year:AAA Member Choice Vacations

Independent Tour Partner of the Year:Pleasant Holidays

Lodging Partner of the Year:Best Western Hotels & ResortsTransportation Partner of the Year:Air by Pleasant

Best in Travel Agency Support:Cruise: Royal Caribbean International
Tour: AAA Member Choice Vacations
Lodging: Best Western Hotels & Resorts
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com. For more information about AAA Travel, visit AAA.com/Travel.

AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at NewsRoom.AAA.com.

ORLANDO, Fla., (February 20, 2015) – Two lucky dogs from California and Oregon were selected as winners of the latest AAA PetBook® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western, a AAA Preferred Hotel Partner. The winners will appear on the back cover and spine of the 17th edition of Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, available this May.

The first-place winner, a Maltese dog from California named Casey, is pictured kayaking down the Mokelumne River in Lodi, Calif. “We travel with Casey because he is family and leaving him at home isn’t fun for him or us,” said owner Ruth Clark, who also enjoys camping, biking and going to farmers’ markets with her dog.

The second-place winner, a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Murphy, from Oregon, is shown on an outing near Trillium Lake in Oregon’s Mount Hood National Forest. Murphy’s owner, Tracey Vukovich, enjoys the priceless sparkle outdoor activities put in her dogs’ eyes. “They are truly members of our family. We enjoy ourselves more when they are included and it’s a delight to see their joy!” said Vukovich.

As a special addition to the first- and second-place winners, an exceptional photo held over from last year’s contest will be featured on the front cover of the 17th edition AAA PetBook. Lyric, a travel-loving Australian shepherd from Connecticut, is shown on a scenic trail teeming with stone formations during a walk at Camp Gone to the Dogs in Stowe, Vermont. “After a busy year of canine musical freestyle performances, our annual getaway to hang out and bond is a special treat,” said owner Carrie Nerie.

In addition to cover fame, the winners and editor’s pick receive pet treats, copies of The AAA PetBook and cash. The back and front cover dogs also receive a Best Western Travel Card that can be used at 4,000 hotels worldwide, including more than 1,600 pet-friendly properties.

Another 44 pets, selected as contest runners up, are pictured inside the book. This year’s collection includes two cats, a bird and a variety of dogs in destinations across the continent, from Glacier National Park to Lake Superior to Nova Scotia’s rocky coast. For additional bragging rights, the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery touts the winners, editor’s pick and the runners up.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is a valuable resource for those who enjoy bringing their pets along on vacations. Nearly 15,000 pet-friendly listings throughout the U.S. and Canada include thousands of AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels, hundreds of AAA Approved and Diamond Rated restaurants that allow pets in outside dining areas and more than 800 campgrounds.

The detailed hotel listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level, from clean and simple motels to family-oriented properties to luxurious resorts. The book also includes information about pet-friendly activities, planning tips, travel etiquette and safety.

Visit AAA.com/PetBook for contest rules, entry forms, a photo gallery and valuable pet travel tips. The next photo contest opens in May when the 17th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook, cover price $18.95 U.S., hits the shelves at participating AAA and CAA offices and book sellers.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western International, Inc.

Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,000+* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers six hotel products to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS®, BEST WESTERN PREMIER®, BEST WESTERN PLUS EXECUTIVE RESIDENCYSM, Vībsm and BW Premier Collection sm. Now celebrating 69 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 22 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, Minor League Baseball, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Best Western continues to set industry records and accolades, including Business Travel News top chain award for both BEST WESTERN and BEST WESTERN PLUS, three consecutive Compuware Best of the Web gold awards and six consecutive AAA/CAA Hotel Partner of the Year awards. Forty percent of Best Western-branded hotels worldwide won TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awards for customer satisfaction.

ORLANDO, Fla., (Aug. 26, 2014) Are you one of the many Americans who take your pets on vacation? Whether your favorite fur ball prefers hiking, boating or some other pursuit, capture the fun and enter your best shot by November 30 for a chance to show off your pet in a big way.

For the seventh consecutive year, the AAA PetBook Photo Contest is sponsored by Best Western, which has more than 1,600 pet-friendly hotels worldwide. Photos are judged on the ability to convey the joys of traveling safely with pets, along with artistic qualities. “Pets who are naturally happy when on-the-go can make excellent photo subjects at scenic destinations,” said PetBook Product Manager Sara Demko. “The challenge is to combine all of the contest attributes — joy, safety and travel — in one clear, well-lit image.”

“When snapping photos or choosing one to enter, contest participants can improve their results by running through a quick checklist,” added Demko. “First, be sure to photograph pets from the front to show their facial features and emotions. Ensure they’re wearing appropriate harnesses or safety vests for the situation. Picture them in a vacation setting, and look for an angle that separates your pet’s coloring from the background. And make sure the lighting and resolution are strong enough to show details.” Tips, contest rules and entry forms are provided at AAA.com/PetBook, along with plenty of examples in the contest photo gallery.

First- and second-place contest winners grace the back cover and spine of Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook®, and more than 40 finalists are pictured inside the book. Winner and finalist photos are also showcased on the AAA.com/PetBook photo gallery — a virtual brag book for proud pet parents. Additional prizes include cash, pet treats, copies of the book and, for the first-place winner, a $150 Best Western Travel Card.

For everyone who travels with pets throughout the U.S. and Canada, The AAA PetBookis a must-have resource. The annually updated guide provides detailed listings — including pet policies, amenities and fees —for more than 13,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels, plus more than 800 pet-friendly campgrounds. Listings also include nearly 700 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated restaurants that welcome pets in outside dining areas. For recreation planning, the book lists national public lands and attractions that allow pets and 300 dog parks in popular travel destinations. Tips for first-time and seasoned pet travelers address packing suggestions, pet etiquette, border crossing and emergency vet clinics.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook is available at many AAA and CAA offices at discounted member prices and select bookstores with a cover price of $18.95. The current edition is also available in digital formats for popular tablets and e-readers through online booksellers at a suggested digital price of $9.99.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 54 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western International, Inc.

Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,000* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER® hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Now celebrating 68 years of hospitality, Best Western welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests nightly. Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 20 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, Minor League Baseball, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. In 2013, Best Western earned our highest level of brand recognition, including our fifth AAA/CAA Hotel Partner of the Year award, second Compuware Best of the Web Gold award, fourth No. 1 ranking in Brand Keys Consumer Loyalty Engagement Index for midscale hotels and seventh TTG Asia Best Mid-range Hotel Brand. Forty-one percent of Best Western hotels worldwide won TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence for customer satisfaction.

For more information or to make a reservation, please visit bestwestern.com.

ORLANDO,Fla., (July 19, 2012) – For many Americans, taking pets along on vacation can make the experience more fun for the whole family. A full 51 percent of travelers with pets say they would bring their pets along on every vacation if they could, according to a recent AAA/Best Western survey of individuals who traveled with their pets in the last 12 months. What hinders them from doing so?

Finding Welcoming Accommodations

Among top considerations in whether to include pets in travel plans is the need to locate welcoming, appropriately matched pet-friendly accommodations, according to the study. Specific aspects of the search include: finding places that accept pets (95 percent), learning about pet policies such as size limits and fees (49 percent) and getting details about available pet services (22 percent). One-quarter of pet travelers who have skipped this important planning step admit to sneaking their pet into a hotel or motel at some point in the past, creating anxiety that can affect pet behavior.

Advance planning using a reliable resource like Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook®, available in print and digital versions, can alleviate concerns related to accommodations and other pet-travel preparations. The listings for pet-friendly AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings throughout the U.S. and Canada provide important details like fees, permitted pet sizes, conditions of stay and pet amenities. Listings also include more than 600 pet-friendly campgrounds plus dog parks and attractions and national public lands that allow pets. Best Western offers more than 1,600 pet-friendly properties worldwide.

Pet Etiquette Considerations

Respondents also identified observations about other pet travelers, pinpointing several behavioral considerations for owners as well as their pets:

“Traveling with your dog can be a wonderful experience. Remember, a balanced dog makes a better traveling companion. Always nurture a balanced state of mind,” says pet expert Cesar Millan.

“Plan your vacation with your dog in mind. Here are some tips to make travel more fun and less stressful for your dog,” says Millan:

Before you start your trip, take your dog for a walk.

Feeding your pet in the car is not a good idea.

As you head out on the road, make sure you crate or harness your dog for safety.

When stopping for a break, never leave your dog in the car, especially when it’s warm outside. Even if the window is cracked open, the car can still heat up and be dangerous to your dog.

Remember to bring your dog’s scent with you. Having a favorite toy will comfort and relax him.

Travelers can also find useful tips for preparing four-legged travelers for the road or air, plus handy information on pet etiquette, insurance and emergency animal clinics, in Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBookand on the AAA.com/PetBook website. The14th edition publicationis available at many AAA and CAA offices and select booksellers at a suggested retail price of $18.95. The digital edition is available at online booksellers at a suggested digital retail price of $9.99.

More AAA/Best Western 2012 Pet Traveler Study Results

A full 93 percent said their pet makes a good travel companion, identifying these reasons:

Good cuddle buddy when away from home (27 percent)

Always lets the owner select the destination (18 percent)

Doesn’t hog the hotel remote (12 percent)

Snores less than owner’s significant other (7 percent)

Helps attract dates (1 percent)

More than eight in 10 (85 percent) of pet travelers travel with their dog, and two in 10 (21 percent) travel with a cat.

Top types of vacations enjoyed with pets:

Visiting friends and family (78 percent)

Road trips (50 percent)

Going to the beach (33 percent)

Camping (27 percent)

Visiting a city (23 percent)

Hiking (17 percent)

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western International, Inc.

Best Western International, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,000* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER® hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Now celebrating 66 years of hospitality, Best Western welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests nightly. Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. More than 14 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can redeem at any Best Western hotel worldwide. The brand’s partnerships with AAA/CAA, racecar driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Best Western in 2011 was named AAA’s and CAA’s Hotel Partner of the Year and bestwestern.com was named the 2011 Compuware Best of the Web Gold award winner.
*Numbers are approximate and can fluctuate.

Exclusive savings available on hotel stays, theme park tickets, car rentals and more

ORLANDO, Fla., (May 4, 2012) – As the summer travel season approaches many Americans will be carefully planning a vacation within their budget. A little research and advance planning can result in big savings. Last year AAA/CAA members saved nearly 2 billion dollars using AAA discounts and the Show Your Card & Save® program. AAA recommends travelers take advantage of cheaper prices by booking early and researching any available discounts such as those available to AAA members on hotels, car rentals and attraction tickets.

“Higher gas prices and tight household budgets continue to cause anxiety for some travelers who are currently planning a summer getaway,” said Gail Acebes, director, AAA Partnership Programs. “AAA is pleased to offer members many discounts on travel products and services that will ease the financial burden of a memorable vacation.”

AAA membership provides extensive discounts to make a summer getaway more affordable. The following is a partial list of travel discounts available to AAA members:

Lodging Discounts

AAA members who stay at AAA preferred hotels receive discounts ranging from five to 15 percent off the best available rate and the comfort of a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Preferred hotels include Best Western, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, The Hilton Family including Hampton; Marriott brands including Renaissance; and Starwood Hotels & Resorts including Sheraton and Westin.

Lodgings vary greatly by cost and amenities. AAA categorizes its 31,000 AAA Approved hotels on a scale of One to Five Diamonds to help travelers identify properties that meet their needs and budget.

Car Rental Discounts

As the exclusive car rental partner of AAA, Hertz offers members a wide variety of money-saving discounts and exclusive offers. AAA member benefits include the guaranteed best rate available at time of reservation by booking channel; reduced rate for NeverLost®GPS, Hertz’s customized on-board navigational system, a discount on Hertz prepaid rates, a discount on the Fuel Purchase Option, no charge for additional qualified AAA drivers, free use of a child safety seat and more.

Savings on Train Travel and Sightseeing Activities

Whether heading home for a summer holiday or to another great North American destination, AAA members are eligible for exclusive savings on train travel. Members receive 10 percent off Amtrak passenger rail fares with three-day advance booking by visiting AAA.com/amtrak. Members also receive 10 percent off Gray Line sightseeing tours of one day or less by visiting AAA.com/grayline.

AAA offers discounts at some of the most popular attractions for a summer getaway. In addition to saving on tickets and admission fees, AAA members save 10 percent at select merchandise and dining locations at Universal Orlando® Resort and Universal Studios HollywoodSM. Visit a AAA office at home or at your destination for additional AAA area discounts.

Stock up on Summer Travel Supplies

Additional savings can be found on summer travel supplies including clothes, bathing suits, film, sunscreen and even a new book to read pool-side at many retailers including:

Target.com: $10 off online purchases of $100 or more

Banana Republic Factory Stores: 10 percent off on all purchases

Gap Outlet: 10 percent off on all purchases

Payless Shoesource: 10 percent off regularly priced merchandise

Travel Planning

Although last minute discounts can be found on travel, typically the best bargains and availability are accessible to those who book in advance. If you are planning a complex summer vacation consider visiting a travel agent. A qualified travel agent, such as your AAA travel agent, works directly with travel providers and will be better equipped to negotiate discounts for you and advise you on other savings or benefits that may be available.

Finding discounts on the road has never been easier. AAA now offers digital and mobile travel planning tools for travel planning ‘on the go’ including free apps that can map a route and locate AAA Discounts and gas prices near a user’s location. Visit AAA.com/mobile for more information.

Travelers can find AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants in the TourBook® guides available at AAA offices, the eTourBook guides at AAA.com/ebooks, online at AAA.com/Travel and from smartphones using AAA Mobile Web or the free apps at AAA.com/mobile.

Last year, members saved nearly $2 billion by taking advantage of AAA/CAA discounts including those available through the Show Your Card & Save® program. AAA’s Show Your Card & Save program is one of the largest member discount program in the world offering more than 164,000 locations for savings worldwide including 110,000 retail locations in North America and popular online retailers. Visit AAA.com/discounts for a complete list of retailers and offers.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

Results are in for the latest annual AAA PetBook® Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western. Five top dogs from Massachusetts, California and Colorado will enjoy a year of fame as “cover dogs” on the 12th edition Traveling With Your Pet: The AAA PetBook®, available this May.Additional contest prizes vary, including cash, copies of the book and a Best Western Travel Card® usable at more than 1,900 pet-friendly properties worldwide.

First-place winners Rosie, Belle and Ortiz, a family of mixed-breed dogs from Fairhaven, Mass., are pictured on the book’s back cover visiting the Cape Cod Canal. “We travel with our pets because they are our family and we enjoy traveling with them,” said the winning pups’ human companion, Wendy Russell.

The second-place winner, Jack, a labradoodle from Santa Cruz, Calif., appears on the book’s spine visiting Monument Valley in Utah. “Jack is such a great traveling companion, both on the road and in hotels,” said owners Susan and Howard Schwartz. “He makes friends with just about everyone.”

The cover features Yukon Jack, an Alaskan malamute from Bayfield, Colo., visiting the scenic Otter Cliffs at Acadia National Park in Maine. The photo was submitted in a previous year by owner Lisa Bourque who enjoys traveling with Yukon Jack because, “He is a people magnet and he thoroughly enjoys seeing many parts of the country. He goes wherever we go.”

Many Americans view their pets as full-fledged family members. They long to hit the road with their canine or feline companions, but hesitate for fear of not finding accommodations that accept four-legged friends. Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook® provides listings for more than 13,000 pet-friendly AAA Approved lodgings and campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada.

The detailed lodging listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level including — for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond Award® hotels. The book also includes information about pet-friendly activities, planning tips, travel safety and, for those who love the great outdoors, more than 400 AAA Rated pet-friendly campgrounds.

Photos of winners and runners up, contest rules and entry forms, and valuable pet-friendly travel tips can be accessed at www.AAA.com/PetBook. The next photo contest opens in May when copies of the 12th edition Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook will be available at many AAA and CAA offices and better bookstores. The cover price is $17.95 U.S.

About AAA

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western

Best Western International is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world’s largest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, Michael Waltrip Racing and Harley-Davidson help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night, join Best Western Rewards®, theonlyhotel frequency program that’s truly global. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.bestwestern.com

AAA PetBook offers guidance and a chance to make your pet famous — Enter photo contest sponsored by Best Western by Nov. 30

More than three-quarters of traveling pet owners would take Fido or Fifi on every vacation if they could, although more than half report difficulty finding pet-friendly accommodations, according to a recent survey commissioned by AAA and Best Western International.

The survey also found:

Thirty-five percent of pet-owning respondents admitted to sneaking their pet into a hotel or motel in the past.

Nearly one-third (28 percent) of those who travel with pets indicate they would rather travel with their pet than with their significant other.

The top five frustrations respondents have with others who travel with pets are those who do not clean up after them (77 percent); those whose dogs constantly bark (53 percent); those who do not notify others their dog is aggressive (45 percent); not walking pets on a leash (42 percent); and owners whose pets are not trained to relieve themselves outside (30 percent).

The most popular pet-inclusive vacations are visiting friends/family (73 percent) and road trips (56 percent).

“Not every pet is right for travel and not every trip is right for a pet, but when the right dog or cat and the right trip come together you never forget it,” said Bill Wood, executive editor, AAA Publishing. “AAA is pleased to provide the millions of traveling pets owners with the tools and information needed to plan the perfect vacation.”

Pet owners can find all the information they need to make their pet vacation easier and safer in Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook® including property listings and advice on transporting pets. Many hotel operators have discovered the popularity of traveling with pets and are making special efforts to accommodate four-footed friends such as the World’s Largest Hotel Chain®, Best Western, which has more than 1,900 pet-friendly properties worldwide. For reservations and information visit AAA.com/bestwestern. AAA members receive special benefits through Best Western’s exclusive rewards program, AAA Preferred Best Western Rewards.

“With more than 1,000 pet-friendly properties in North America, Best Western knows pets are very much a part of our guests’ families. As such, we want to welcome them and their owners to our properties,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Best Western. “We are proud to offer a variety of ways for travelers to get information about hitting the road with their pets.”

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook® also features information on how to enter the annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western, a AAA preferred lodging partner. Entry deadline is Nov. 30 and winning pets will appear on a cover of the next edition. To enter, visit www.AAA.com/petbook.

AAA’s PetBook Photo Contest sponsored by Best Western®

Travelers who vacation with their furry friends have until Nov. 30 to enter the annual AAA PetBook Photo Contest.

Two winning entries will appear on a cover of the next edition. The “Best in Travel” winner will also receive $350 and five complimentary copies of the book, plus a $150 Best Western Travel Card that can be used at any of the more than 4,000 Best Western properties worldwide, including more than 1,900 pet-friendly locations. The second-place winner will receive $200 from AAA and two complimentary copies of the book. Photos and completed forms must be submitted by Nov. 30. Contest rules and entries from previous years are available online at AAA.com/PetBook.

Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook includes more than 13,000 pet-friendly, AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings and campgrounds in the United States and Canada. The listings include fees, permitted pet sizes and conditions of stay for properties at every Diamond Rating level, including for pampered pets — AAA Five Diamond® Award-winning hotels.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

About Best Western

Best Western International is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,000* independently owned and operated member hotels in 80* countries and territories worldwide. An industry pioneer since 1946, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts 400,000* worldwide guests each night. Best Western’s diverse property portfolio, its greatest strength, stems from a business model designed to give owners maximum flexibility to address market-specific needs. Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western recently embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world’s largest family, as our hotels and staff sponsor children in need around the globe. Since 2004, Best Western has served as the Official Hotel of NASCAR®. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit http://www.bestwestern.com/.

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This is the official newsroom of AAA, a not-for-profit organization that provides its members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive services and information. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.